Peach Blossom.

When Xiaowan arrived at Hanzhang Palace, Si Yu had just finished his morning court session and the chief eunuch Xie Cheng was guarding outside the palace gate.

Although Si Yu didn't like Xiaowan, he felt somewhat apologetic towards her for running away from Fangle Palace in the middle of the night, so he agreed to meet her.

Xiaowan left all the other maids outside the palace and only brought Cailing in.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Although Xiaowan lowered her head, she glanced upwards and glanced at Si Yu with a resentful look.

Sure enough, Si Yu understood Xiao Wan's expression and seemed to be more apologetic. He acted in a caring manner: "Last night...did you not sleep well last night? There are dark circles under your eyes."

Seeing this, Xiao Wan bravely moved closer to Si Yu's desk and responded in a complaining tone: "You lost a big person while sleeping. How can you sleep well?"

"I woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly remembered that I had to do something important. You were sleeping soundly and it was difficult for me to wake you up, so I had to leave without saying goodbye." Si Yu smiled slightly. Although he was lying, his attitude was not perfunctory.

At this time, Xiaowan was already standing on Si Yu's right side and could clearly see the objects on the desk.

The next thing she should do is to divert Si Yu's attention.

Xiao Wan glanced at Cai Ling, then frowned and sighed, "I didn't sleep well last night, and it wasn't just because of this."

Cai Ling understood and continued, "Shuyuan is worried about Miss Taoye's illness, right?"

Si Yu hurriedly asked: "Is Tao Ye sick?"

Cai Ling said, "Your Majesty, you may not know that Miss Taoye's forehead was a little hot before dawn, and my sister has been taking care of her."

Si Yu's attention was immediately focused on Cai Ling: "Is she cold? Have you asked a doctor to see her? How is she now?"

Xiaowan took the opportunity to lean over slightly and look at the pile of memorials on the desk one by one from top to bottom. There seemed to be an envelope sandwiched between two of them.

Cai Ling answered Si Yu's words slowly and calmly: "Zhang Shuyuan had already asked the imperial physician to come and see her. It snowed last night and she stood outside for most of the night, so it was inevitable that she would be cold. However, after taking the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician, her fever went away soon. Just before Shuyuan went out, she went to see her and she was feeling better."

While Cai Ling was answering, Xiaowan stretched out her hand slightly and gently lifted up the memorial that was pressing down on the envelope with her fingertips, but she couldn't see any words on the envelope.

Si Yu nodded to Cai Ling: "It was too cold last night. She must have been very cold. You should take good care of her."

"Zhang Shuyuan has always treated Miss Taoye as her own sister. How could I not be attentive to her? I even specially kept a prescription written by the imperial physician!" Cai Ling said, taking out a prescription from her sleeve.

Si Yu waved his hand and said, "Bring it here for me to see."

Cai Ling specially presented the prescription from the left front of Si Yu, and Si Yu turned slightly to the left and took the prescription to look at it.

At this time, Si Yu's vision could no longer catch Xiaowan, so Xiaowan lifted the memorial higher and tried to get the envelope out.

Outside the door, Xie Cheng suddenly came to report: "Your Majesty, Concubine Zhou wants to see you."

Xiaowan didn't have time to take the envelope out. She was afraid that Xie Cheng would see it, so she quickly let go.

Without waiting for Si Yu to summon her, Concubine Zhou had already staggered into Hanzhang Palace.

Si Yu asked: "Why are you here?"

"The jade belt that the emperor was looking for when he got up this morning, I found it later and brought it to you specially." Concubine Zhou acted as if she didn't see Xiaowan. She stepped over Xiaowan, walked to Si Yu, and took out the jade belt.

Xiaowan took a step back tactfully. She could tell that there was something implied in Concubine Zhou's words: after Si Yu left Fangle Palace in the middle of the night last night, he went to live in Concubine Zhou's Xianhua Palace.

Si Yu looked at the jade belt and felt a little amused: "It's just a jade belt, it doesn't matter which one you use to tie your waist. It's freezing cold, is it worth it for you to make a trip for such a small matter?"

Xiaowan thought that perhaps Concubine Zhou had not originally planned to give her the jade belt, but only decided to do so after hearing that she was coming.

Concubine Zhou, however, showed good intentions: "Every little thing that the emperor does is a big thing in my eyes. What's the big deal about walking a few more steps? How can you be frozen?"

Si Yu chuckled, shook his head, accepted the jade belt, pointed at Xiao Wan and said to Concubine Zhou, "You don't see Zhang Shuyuan often, go meet her!"

Concubine Zhou didn't even look at Xiao Wan, her face was indifferent: "Yesterday she was still Zhang Cairen, and today she has become Zhang Shuyuan? A maid in the princess's mansion, who has been in the palace for only more than a year, has become equal to me, a concubine. It's really amazing!"

Xiaowan lowered her head and dared not say a word. She knew that ever since the Queen had forcibly taken Taoye away from Concubine Zhou, Concubine Zhou must have disliked her in every way.

"Yu Niang! Don't say that! Zhang Shuyuan saved my life yesterday." Si Yu gently pushed Concubine Zhou and gave her a wink.

These should have been words of blame, but because Si Yu's actions and tone were so natural and friendly, it didn't sound like a blame at all.

They really look like an old married couple!

Concubine Zhou couldn't help but laugh, with a frivolous look on her face: "Tomorrow, I will find a maid to push you into the water, and then I will jump in to save you. From now on, I will also be your savior!"

After hearing these words, Xiaowan couldn't even raise her head.

Concubine Zhou sighed and said, "It's a pity... I don't have a maid who is so loyal and simple..."

Si Yu was depressed when he heard this: "What do you mean by that?"

Concubine Zhou smiled faintly: "I was just telling you a joke!"

The act of "showing favor" became a joke in Concubine Zhou's mouth. Xiaowan no longer wanted to stand here: "Your Majesty and Concubine Zhou can chat slowly. I will take my leave first."

Si Yu agreed, and Xiao Wan walked out of Hanzhang Palace quickly. As soon as she walked out of the palace, her tears flowed uncontrollably.

Her trip was in vain. She gained nothing except humiliation.

After returning to Fangle Palace, Xiaowan closed the door and cried alone in the room for a long time, not even eating lunch.

When Tao Ye learned about this, she wanted to comfort Xiao Wan. However, just as she knocked on Xiao Wan's door, she was pulled away by Cai Wei.

Caiwei whispered: "I guess she doesn't want to see you now, so don't go and make things difficult for her."

"What happened to her?" Tao Ye was confused.

Caiwei whispered again: "My sister told me that your plan of "showing favor" was exposed by Concubine Zhou, and it was made into a joke in front of the emperor! And the emperor ran away from Zhang Shuyuan's bedroom in the middle of the night, and even the palace maids laughed at him. Zhang Shuyuan heard it, and she must feel too embarrassed to show up now!"

Tao Ye smiled lightly, remembering the news that was left in modern times before she came to the ancient times: "A female delivery woman died in the men's restroom". Even after she died, she was still cyber-trolled in the name of "pervert" and was cyber-bullied by countless netizens. Isn't that the case?

She just wants to stay alive and doesn't care what others say!

Tao Ye shrugged speechlessly: "Are you ashamed to face others for such a small matter? I have been a joke in the eyes of others since I was a child, but I still eat well and sleep well!"

Caiwei stuck out her tongue at Taoye and said sarcastically, "How many people can be as shameless as you?"

The two of them chatted for a while, then put the matter behind them and went on with what they were doing!

Xiaowan stayed in her room feeling sad until dark.

After sunset, Xiaowan was more frightened than sad. She was afraid that Chen Ji would appear and question her. She didn't want to talk to Cailing, and she didn't know who to confide in.

She deeply suspected that the "giving favor" plan offered by Cai Ling might have been arranged by Chen Ji, and she might have fallen into a trap a long time ago...

Xiaowan was particularly sleepy because of last night's sleepless night. Even though she was worried, she still fell asleep and slept very deeply.

She had a dream that she was enthroned as queen, standing on a high platform admired by all, receiving worship from all directions. How glorious it must be!

In the dream, all those who once looked down on her changed their expressions to a fawning one; especially the aunt who had treated her harshly since she was a child, who was now begging for mercy at her like a pug!

The golden light from the high platform made it difficult for her to see the face of the emperor beside her. She didn't know whether it was Si Yu or Chen Ji...

She was secretly proud of herself in her dream, but unexpectedly someone pushed her, causing her to fall from the high platform. She shouted for help in a hurry, but was suddenly awakened by the scream, and was sweating all over!

There was no moon that night, and the room was dark and quiet, but a question suddenly popped up beside her: "Are you dreaming?"

She could tell that it was Chen Ji's voice, and the source of the voice was right beside the pillow.

Chen Ji was actually lying next to her!

"You...what's wrong with you..." Xiaowan sat up alertly, her heart pounding again. She quickly touched her body and found that her clothes were still there.

Chen Ji couldn't help laughing out loud.

Xiao Wan curled up in the corner, trying to keep a distance from Chen Ji. She was very nervous and didn't dare to speak loudly: "I... I didn't get it..."

"I know." Chen Ji got out of bed and turned on the light. He did everything so casually, as if he was in his own territory.

Xiaowan saw Chen Ji clearly. This time he was wearing men's clothes, all black, and was dressed as a masked man.

Chen Ji put away the candlestick, turned around and threw a paper bag to Xiaowan.

The paper bag fell in front of Xiaowan's knees. She picked it up and said, "What...what is this?"

"It's just a knockout drug."

Xiao Wan's heart skipped a beat. She shook her head and her hands began to tremble: "No... He... He is the emperor. How can I drug him?"

"Then how dare you push him into the water?" Chen Ji sneered.

Xiaowan lowered her head and looked at the paper bag in her hand with a frown.

Chen Ji sneered: "You are too timid. You can't succeed when he is awake. You can only succeed if you make him fall asleep."

Xiao Wan held the paper bag and looked at it again and again: "Is this really just a knockout drug?"

Chen Ji nodded, but laughed: "If you are worried, you can try it first."

Xiao Wan's mood at the moment was like the waves on the sea, one after another. She stared at the paper package, feeling so entangled: "That letter... should be something very important to you and him, right? Even if I get it, when the effect of the drug wears off and he wakes up, he will find that such an important thing is missing, and he will definitely suspect me first! By then... will he let me go?"

"This thing is a secret. Even if he finds out it's lost, he won't dare look for it in a high-profile manner. He can only ask you for it quietly. When the time comes... I will have my own way to deal with it." Chen Ji leaned close to Xiaowan and gave her a look.

Xiaowan felt confused. She didn't trust Chen Ji's ability to "clean up the mess". With Chen Ji's ability to come and go without a trace, he would most likely run away once he got the things. Then, she would be the only one to bear the responsibility, right?

She imagined the possible consequences and became more and more frightened. She couldn't help but think of backing out.

Xiao Wan took a deep breath, got out of bed, put on her shoes, walked to Chen Ji, handed him the paper bag with both hands, and said bravely: "I... I don't want to do it anymore... You... You can find someone else to do it!"

"Hmm?" Chen Ji was stunned: "Are you sure?"

Xiaowan plucked up her courage and nodded.

"Do you know the consequences of giving up halfway?" Chen Ji smiled grimly and spoke in a low voice.

Xiaowan was confused and shook her head.

Chen Ji smiled, his expression becoming more and more sinister: "I have many loyal warriors, they are all absolutely loyal to me, do you know why?"

Xiaowan shook her head again.

"Because, everyone in the underworld knows one thing: once you know something you shouldn't know, you can only become one of two types of people: one is one of us, and the other is... a dead person!"

Xiaowan was so frightened by the last two words that even breathing was a little difficult.

Chen Ji pushed the paper bag back to Xiao Wan, and took a step closer to her. He smiled and said, "If you are out now, I can only silence you."

Xiaowan suddenly lost her strength and leaned against the bed with her arms hanging straight down, one hand still tightly clutching the paper bag.